- explain away something
- explain away (something)
to invent reasons why something is unimportant.
You will find it hard to explain away all these mistakes.
Rather than face the truth, we try to explain it away.
New idioms dictionary. 2014.
explain away something
Look at other dictionaries:
explain away — (something) to invent reasons why something is unimportant. You will find it hard to explain away all these mistakes. Rather than face the truth, we try to explain it away … New idioms dictionary
explain away — transitive verb transitive verb 1. : to get rid of by or as if by explanation was trying to speak some words that … would explain away all the mistakes and misunderstandings of life Ellen Glasgow 2. : to minimize the significance of by or as if… … Useful english dictionary
explain away — phrasal verb [transitive] Word forms explain away : present tense I/you/we/they explain away he/she/it explains away present participle explaining away past tense explained away past participle explained away to tell someone about something in a… … English dictionary
explain away — {v.} To explain (something) so that it does not seem true or important. * /John explained away his unfinished homework by showing the teacher his broken arm in a cast./ * /It is hard to explain away Abraham Lincoln s dream about being dead, which … Dictionary of American idioms
explain away — {v.} To explain (something) so that it does not seem true or important. * /John explained away his unfinished homework by showing the teacher his broken arm in a cast./ * /It is hard to explain away Abraham Lincoln s dream about being dead, which … Dictionary of American idioms
explain — [ek splān′, iksplān′] vt. [ME explanen < L explanare, to flatten < ex , out + planare, to make level < planus, level (see PLANE2): sp. infl. by PLAIN1] 1. to make clear, plain, or understandable 2. to give the meaning or interpretation… … English World dictionary
explain — ► VERB 1) make clear by giving a detailed description. 2) give a reason or justification for. 3) (explain oneself) excuse or justify one s motives or conduct. 4) (explain away) minimize the significance of (something awkward) by giving an excuse… … English terms dictionary
explain — ex|plain W1S1 [ıkˈspleın] v [I and T] [Date: 1500 1600; : Latin; Origin: explanare to make level, unfold , from planus level, flat ] 1.) to tell someone about something in a way that is clear or easy to understand ▪ Our lawyer carefully explained … Dictionary of contemporary English
explain — explainable, adj. explainer, explanator /ek spleuh nay teuhr/, n. /ik splayn /, v.t. 1. to make plain or clear; render understandable or intelligible: to explain an obscure point. 2. to make known in detail: to explain how to do something. 3. to… … Universalium
explain — /Ik spleIn/ verb (I, T) 1 to make something clear or easy to understand: Our lawyer carefully explained the procedure. | explain (to sb) why/how/where etc: The librarian will explain how to use the catalogue system. | explain that: I explained… … Longman dictionary of contemporary English
